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Sunday, May 4, 2008

Chauka Bara

Chauka Bara is a 'Race Game' where in two to four players race their respective coins on a board of 5x5 squares to reach the inner most square. The movement of coins is controlled by throw of four cowrie shells, hence it is a game of chance. Since each player has four coins, he can decide which coin to move, hence it also comes under strategical games.

This game is called by various names in different languages in different regions.

Contents: 4 sets of 4 coins (total 16) + 4 cowrie shells. This game can be played by either 2, 3 or 4 players. Each player gets 4 coins of same colour and keeps it in his home.

Goal: To reach one’s all 4 coins to innermost square, first.

Throw of four cowrie shells:

1 mouth up - move 1 square

2 mouths up - move 2 squares

3 mouths up - move 3 squares

4 mouths up (chauka) - move 4 squares & play again

No mouths up (baara) - move 8 squares & play again

How to play:

The board is always kept in the centre during the game.

Each player has a different starting point and initially keeps all his coins there (marked by X on his side).

Each player takes turn to throw all four cowrie shells on the floor and moves one of his coins according to the number as indicated by the shells.

Movement of coins is in anti-clockwise direction in outer squares and then in clockwise direction in inner squares as shown by the arrow in the diagram.

If a player’s coin lands on a square occupied by opponent’s coin, then the opponent’s coin is cut and the player gets an extra turn to play.

The cut coin returns to its starting home square and has to go round all over again.

The crossed squares (home squares) though, are safe places and no coins present here can be cut.

When a coin reaches the square left of its home square, it further moves up into the inner squares and now moves in clockwise direction. Each coin finishes its race when it manages to get into the innermost crossed square.

The first player to get all his coins into the innermost square wins the game.

Extra Turn:

Whenever a chauka or a baara (four or eight) is got during a throw of cowrie shells, the player gets a bonus turn to throw the cowries.

When a player cuts opponent’s coin, he gets an extra turn to play.

During an extra turn, either the same coin or some other coin can be played.

Points to remember:

A player should cut his opponent in order to move his coins into the inner squares. Otherwise he has to move another coin or forfeit his turn until he cuts the opponent.

If a player has cut once, all the coins can move into the inner circle, not necessary for every coin to cut opponent.

No limit for a player to cut opponents’ coins.

If a player throws either a chauka or a baara three times consecutively during his turn, he is out and cannot use any of the moves.

Optional Rule: One can have an optional rule to make the game a little more challenging wherein each player has to throw either a chauka or a baara before he can start moving his coins, not necessary to throw chauka or baara for each coin.

Benefits: This is primarily a game of chance, but involves thinking and planning. It also helps in developing counting skills. It is an interesting and fun way to develop strategy skills.

------------------Mr. Dhanan Sekhar Edathara, a Senior software engineer and an amateur artist from Tiruvanatapuram, Kerala has designed an online game version of Chauka Bara. Anyone can play the game at http://kavidikali.com. Thanks Mr. Dhanan for the link.

We used to play chauka bara at my dear grandma's place. We would draw the grid on the back of an old wooden cutting board and use tamarind seeds, stones, red gulganji and the like for game pieces. Those were the days ......

In marathi its sometimes called as "Challas aath".... insted of cowry we use beans of chinch break them into half (use 2 beans)to make 4.now using their light and dark side we calculate 1,2,3,4 or 8... likewise..

Contributors

Welcome

Dear reader, welcome, we are glad to have you here. As the text in the banner says, this blog is a window into the world of traditional board games of India. We are a team of three - R.G. Singh, Raghu Dharmendra and Dr. C.R. Dileep Kumar Gowda - who go around and visit towns, villages, temples, etc., and gather information on board games in our own way and document them.

This blog contains some titbits, stories, game rules, etc., which we found, encountered and experienced during our field trips. Please feel free to comment. We would be glad to answer any of your queries or doubts. If there are any mistakes please bring it to our knowledge. Thank you. Enjoy reading.

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